SOLAR PANELS ARE DEVICES THAT WE USE to transform sunlight into usable energy. The ability of materials to convert light into electrical power was first discovered in the 1800s, and the first usable solar cell was invented just a few decades afterwards. It wasn’t until 1939, the same year that Cave of the Mounds was discovered, that the modern solar cell was created, and many solar panels still use this original design today.
In 2023, Cave of the Mounds installed two solar arrays alongside our restored prairie. These solar panels provide energy to the Cave Entrance Building, the Visitor Center, and the cave itself, and they reduce our carbon footprint by approximately 50%.
Over the lifetime of the arrays, the system will offset 1330.68 tons of Carbon Dioxide (CO₂). This is equivalent to:
- Planting 33,433 trees
- Reducing the usage of gasoline by 146,375 gallons
- Recycling 4,657.4 tons of waste
- Charging 149,983,906 smartphones
- Reducing the burning of coal by 698.6 tons (1,397,211 lbs)
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Quick Facts
- During the first year of operation, each 28.21 kW DC system will produce a combined 70,213 kWh of electricity.
- One array supplies 76.7% of annual electricity for the Visitor Center. The other array supplies 49.5% of annual electricity for the Cave Entrance Building.
- Combined project first-year electric bill savings of $8,379.
- Combined estimated 25-year electric bill savings of $316,075.
- 124 Znshine 455-watt modules / 4 Fronius Primo inverters.
